Cubs' latest loss won't help Sveum's mood

They blow 2-run lead to Reds in 13th inning on day manager ponders his future with poor-performing team

April 23, 2013|By Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune reporter

The Cubs' David DeJesus rounds the bases on his solo home run. (David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports / USA TODAY Sports)

CINCINNATI — Dale Sveum can look disheveled standing in the Cubs' dugout with his perpetual five o'clock shadow.

During the Cubs Convention, a fan complained to Chairman Tom Ricketts that Sveum looked like he "slept under a bridge."

"I think Dale presents himself really well in things that matter," President Theo Epstein said last month of the fan's critique. "It was funny. When we get to the postseason, Dale will find a suit to wear to the press conferences."

The question is whether Sveum will last long enough with the Cubs to get a chance to wear that suit.

Before Monday's 5-4, 13-inning loss to Reds, Sveum was asked if he ever thought about his future with the Cubs playing so poorly.

"Yeah, I'd be lying if you didn't think about yourself through some of this stuff too," he said. "But that's stuff you don't have control over. I've got control over my job and the coaching staff to prepare everybody every day in spring training and this and that, and that's all I can do."

Luis Valbuena's two-run homer off Alfredo Simon gave the Cubs a two-run lead in the 13th, but Dave Sappelt turned a single into a double by letting Brandon Phillips' blooper off Michael Bowden get past him while attempting a diving catch.

Sveum didn't blame Sappelt for the diving attempt, saying "he was trying to make a great play. He almost did and it would've changed the game around. But just came up a little short."

Jay Bruce's two-run double tied it again at 4-4, before Cesar Izturis ended it with an RBI single to left.

"We battled and we were right there again," starter Travis Wood said. "We've got to figure out a way when we're right there to either hang onto it or pull it out."

Wood pitched 61/3 innings and left with a 2-1 lead, but Mike Hannahan's RBI triple off James Russell tied it in a two-run seventh.

Sveum doesn't have to worry about losing his job. The Cubs knew it was going to be a difficult grind in the rebuild, and one of the qualities Epstein liked about Sveum was his patience.

But that patience seems to be running thin, as evidenced by Sveum's assertion Saturday his club was making "Rookie ball" mistakes. On Sunday, Sveum suggested Anthony Rizzo and Starlin Castro weren't immune from being sent down to Triple A, inadvertently igniting a debate about Sveum's job status.

Asked if he feels he has the support of Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer, Sveum replied: "Oh, yeah. No doubt."

And Epstein confirmed that, saying there's no wavering in his belief in Sveum, whose contract runs through 2014, with an option for 2015.

"Of course Dale has our full support," he said. "We are all accountable in this organization and we succeed or fail collectively. As Dale said, it's on all of us — myself more than anyone — to work until we find a way to improve as we go forward, whether that's with respect to an individual player's development, the team's performance or the health of the organization as a whole. "

Sveum said he hasn't spoken to Rizzo or Castro about the comments and added "they're not the only ones" who could be demoted. Sveum said those two were the ones reporters were "pushing" when asking him about his options.

Sveum was told the questions stemmed from the widespread belief the Cubs would never demote Rizzo or Castro because of their status as core players in the rebuild.

"Like I said, nobody is exempt," he replied. "Pointing them out, that doesn't mean they're (being demoted). Obviously we all know people who have options and things like that — you have control over those players.

"That's all basically what (I'm) talking about. I'm not pointing fingers at them or anything. I'm just (saying), 'Hey, we're all (culpable for) this. I'm (not) exempt (from) being fired, and so is my coaching staff. We're all in this together as a team."